Instructions for
Panzadrome
Ariolasoft, 1985
Written by Chris Owen, HTML'd by Arnt Gulbrandsen.
Controls
Keyboard, Kempston
Joystick controls are recommended for this game!
Aim of the game
The eponymous Panzadrome is an island inhabited solely by
robot tanks of varying viciousness. You have been given the task of
destroying all the robots on the Panzadrome...
Game play
Each robot tank is remotely controlled from a central
computer, from which it gets its power. Plasma vents are a central part
of the power grid, and they have to be destroyed in order to knock out
both the computer and tanks. The computer is well aware of this
weakness, though, and wherever you find a vent there is also a strong
guardian force as well. Apart from the tanks you also have to cope with
heavily armed fun emplacements which fire on any intruders.
Due to budget restrictions, you have been given a very sub-standard
tank with a one-shot turret and stone wheels! Fortunately, factory
depots are scattered around the island, each specialising in a
different type of tank component. You can visit these factories and
collect whatever system a factory makes.
Though the robot part stores are unaware that you are an intruder, the
computer's tanks will recognise you immediately and try to destroy you.
Three weapons systems are available to you, although at the start you
only have the worst - a on-shot turret. The others are mortars and
mines, both of which must be collected from the appropriate factory.
A Polycrete (TM) module is almost vital to have. Although you can
avoid the enemy tank fire if you are quick enough, their (and your)
exploding shells leave impassable craters in the ground. This means
that it can be quite easy to get stuck between a pair of impassable
craters. The solution is to use Polycrete (TM) - press P to squirt it
into the crater to fill the hole.
The Panzadrome itself is a 64-screen island, each screen flicking
to the next when the edge boundary is reached. A scanner helps you
navigate by highlighting the screen you are currently on. A short-
range scanner is also shown, displaying the tanks (which you can
see) and the mines (which you can't). As well as this, the status
screen shows the state of repair of any equipment you may have; if
something is too badly damaged you will lose it. You only have one
life, and if your shields run out a direct hit on your tank will
destroy it. Status bars depict shield level and other counters show
the amount of ammunition.
Comments
"A very good idea that is let down a bit by the execution."
Rating
77% (CRASH #24, January 1986)
Now
Quite a nice arcade/strategy game but with horrendous keyboard
controls.
Keys
Rotate left - CAPS LOCK
Rotate right - Z
Forwards - X
Backwards - C
Fire - V
Use Polycrete (TM) - P
Nettverksgruppa, 10/9-94, sinclair@nvg.ntnu.no